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Puerarin, which is naturally found in kudzu, can also reduce inflammation and may even be able to fight against cardiovascular disease . Another molecule found naturally in kudzu is isoorientin, which also has anti-inflammatory properties . But if you’re not a gardener, the kudzu plant is actually one of the good guys.
- Studies of daidzin may lead to an anti-drinking drug for alcohol treatment that causes fewer side effects.
- However with more people utilizing natural alternatives to treat different mental health disorders, why not try to use them for alcoholism?
- Nature’s Way is a supplement and vitamin company providing naturally created and sustainably harvested herbal ingredients.
- Those struggling with alcoholism often try to find sufficient treatment options.
- More recently, kudzu root has made its way to Western countries as an herbal supplement.
- Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
This is the first ever pilot results showing that the complex Declinol, significantly reduced Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores in moderate to heavy drinkers in a naturalistic setting (Figure 1 and 2; Table 3). While this is a small pilot study requiring additional large scale controlled studies, we are encouraged.
Treatment with kudzu extract does not cause an increase in alcohol’s intoxicating effects, study finds
Bouchery EE, Harwood HJ, Sacks JJ, Simon CJ, Brewer RD. Economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption in the U.S., 2006. Although no one knows exactly why kudzu increases sobriety, researchers https://ecosoberhouse.com/ theorize that the herb speeds alcohol’s effect on the head. Memorial Sloan Kettering does not record specific website user information and does not contact users of this website.
Is kudzu good for weight loss?
Weight loss.
Early research suggests that taking kudzu extract 300 mg by mouth daily for 12 weeks reduces body fat and body mass index (BMI) in people who are obese. However, taking kudzu extract 200 mg daily does not appear to have the same effects.
We are proposing that a novel approach to nutritional supplementation may be required to target the RDS role in alcoholism and glucose homeostasis . Alcohol quickly affects blood sugar, especially in the brain . Certainly an added stress of attempting to eliminate alcohol usage is the drastic swings in blood sugar, which when occurring may stimulate a stronger desire to drink . Any natural means to balance blood sugar can therefore be of great cessation benefit to alcohol programs. Another study found that kudzu may really “affect alcohol consumption patterns.” In this same study, people who took an isoflavone extract from the kudzu plant before drinking took longer to reach for the liquor cabinet.
Neurobiology of Chinese Herb Medicine
Many people began to grow it in their backyards for ornamental display. Today, the kudzu vine grows across Southeast Asia, in the Pacific Islands and in North America.
Daily drinking can have serious consequences for a person’s health, both in the short- and long-term. Many of the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention. However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. Acamprosate interacts with GABA signaling to restore the proper chemical balance in the brain following chronic alcohol exposure. This process leads to the reduction of alcohol craving and alcohol consumption in individuals dependent on alcohol. Never take a new medication for alcohol dependence without consulting a doctor first.
For Patients & Caregivers
Another study shows that kudzu flower might be helpful to lessen hot flashes in menopausal women. Let’s dig into the potential health benefits of this rad root. Kudzu root comes from a trailing vine that often grows over other plants. In Chinese pharmacy books, kudzu is listed as a possible treatment for alcohol-related hangovers and cravings, Penetar tells WebMD. About 1 in 6 U.S. adults binge drinks, according to a CDC report. According to the CDC, binge drinking is having four or more drinks on one occasion for a woman and five or more for a man. It is one of the substances known as isoflavones found in kudzu.
Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using. Early research suggests that injecting puerarin, a chemical in kudzu, intravenously along with usual treatment might help some people after a heart attack. Some early research kudzu extract for alcoholism suggests that taking puerarin, a chemical in kudzu, alone or with aspirin, might improve brain function in some people after stroke. However, other research shows that injecting puerarin intravenously does not reduce death or dependency after a stroke. Early research suggests that taking puerarin, a chemical in kudzu, 400 mg/day by mouth for 10 days might improve heart function in people with heart failure.
The weed that whacks binge drinking
A small study showed that in heavy drinkers of alcohol, kudzu did result in a reduction of the number of beers consumed after 7 days of treatment. Drinking was recorded using a custom built end table that contained a digital scale beneath a ceramic tile insert in the tabletop (Ohaus model #B10P with I5S controller). Participants were instructed to always keep the beer glass on the table except when taking a sip. The scale was connected to a computer in an adjacent room that ran a customized program that sampled the scale at 5 Hz and detected any weight changes that exceeded 1 gm. Additional details and photos of the device can be found in Lukas et al. . However, it is now FDA-approved for the treatment of alcohol dependence and cravings.
- You can eat the root as you would other root vegetables, like potatoes or rutabagas.
- Read online reviews of that particular kudzu root supplement to find out more about other folks’ experiences.
- They train you to be aware of your thoughts, feelings, and cravings rather than simply reacting to them.
- Compounds called isoflavones are thought to be responsible for its potential effects.
- Several medications are approved by the FDA to alleviate alcohol cravings, but are prescription only.
- In the second, participants who were treated for 4 weeks with kudzu extract significantly reduced their alcohol consumption during weeks 2 through 4 of the study (Lukas et al., 2013).